Dispensing device



March 1, 1955 c. H. TASKER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 28, 1951 INVENTUR CLINTON H. TASKER ii? 1% ATT URNEY United States Patent DISPENSING DEVICE Clinton H. Tasker, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application July 28, 1951, Serial No. 239,124

7 Claims. (Cl. 242-555) This invention relates to a dispensing and curling device for cellulosic binding tape in roll form.

Cellulosic binding tape, prepared in roll form in various widths and colors, is commonly used in place of cord in the wrapping and tying of gift packages. It has been the practice to enhance the artistic effect of such packages by causing the ends of the tape to crinkle or curl, this being efiected by drawing the tape over an acute edge, such as the cutting edge of a shear blade. Often a bundle of such crinkled or curled tape is tied to the tape or cord binding such package for a similar artistic effect. Such operation stresses the fibres in such manner as to cause the tape to naturally crinkle or curl. Producing the curl by such procedure, while effective, is cumbersome, requiring several independent operations, and employs a shear blade in a dangerous exposed manner, different from its intended and relatively safe use, the blade generally being held in the bare hand.

The present invention is directed to a handy device for dispensing tape of the type described, whereby such tape in the dispensing operation may be subjected to the curling or crinkling operation, the device being preferably so constructed as to be conveniently held in one hand while the tape is being withdrawn manually. The invention contemplates the provision of an edge suitably disposed in relation to the device, over which the tape is drawn, capable of producing the crinkle or curl, whereby the tape may be pressed against such edge as by thumb pressure of the hand holding the device. The invention also contemplates the provision of a severing means for the tape, constructed in a safe and protected manner, and so disposed as to facilitate the rapid cutting of lengths of tape. Additionally, the invention contemplates a casing for a roll of such material, which can be reloaded, and in which the mentioned features are mounted in an effective yet economical manner.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing and curling device;

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the dispensing device, as shown, comprises a shallow drum-like casing formed generally of two parts, a shallow cup-like part 10, having a substantially circular side wall 12, and upturned marginal flange 14 forming a peripheral circular wall, and a cover part 16. The cover part comprises a substantially circular wall 17 provided with an inturned telescopic marginal flange 18, outwardly rolled as at 20, so that the cover may nest with the cup-like part and form the shallow drum-like casing. As shown, the side wall 12 is provided with a centering pin 22 upon which a roll of cellulosic tape may be centered or the spool on which such roll is mounted.

The peripheral circular wall is provided with a slot 24 extending substantially parallel with the axis of the cas- 2,703,208 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 ing through which cellulosic tape may be withdrawn as needed. Adjacent such slot, the peripheral wall may be olfset outwardly as at 26 to form a portion of greater radius 28. The end 30 of such offset portion may be severed from the edge 31, and thereafter joined to an outwardly disposed bracket member 32. Such bracket member extends substantially the width of the peripheral circular wall and terminates with a curling edge 34, conveniently disposed With reference to the slot 24. The bracket member 32 is secured to the peripheral wall adjacent the edge 31 by a bent tab portion 36 and the bracket member is slotted as at 38 for a reason which will hereinafter be apparent. The offset portion 28 is provided with an open slot 40, such slot being partially closed by a cutting member 42 having a sharp cutting edge 44 extending lengthwise of the slot and centrally thereof. Such cutting member is secured to the under side of said offset portion, so that the cutting edge is in a protected position. The side wall 12 is cut away as at 46 so as to provide access to each of the open slots 38 and 40.

It will be appreciated that a roll of cellulosic material such as indicated at 48 is so disposed within the casing as to permit the tangential unrolling of tape, such tape being withdrawn as indicated by the dotted line 50, the end being conveniently threaded through the slot 24. When it is desired to produce a curling or crinkled eflect to the tape being withdrawn from the casing, such casing will be held in the palm of the left hand, as indicated in Figure 3, and the tape will be drawn across the curling edge 34. The tape is held in engagement with such edge by the thumb, whereby suitable pressure is imposed upon the cellulosic material as it is drawn across the curling edge. The degree of curling effect may thus be regulated by varying the thumb pressure to suit the requirements.

When a sufficient length of cellulosic tape has been withdrawn from the casing and curled in the manner described, the tape may then be conveniently rerouted by being positioned in the slot 38 and the slot 40, and thereafter stressed against the cutting edge 44 for severing such length. It will appear that the cutting edge 44 is so disposed with reference to the outlet slot 24 that a satisfactory length of tape is left outwardly of the casing so as to provide a convenient gripping portion for withdrawing further tape, whether it be desired to draw such tape across the curling edge for producing the effect desired, or for withdrawing tape from the roll for ordinary purposes.

As shown, the cup-like casing member may be formed in a single stamping, the offset portion 26 and 28 being formed from a part of the peripheral flange after the initial operation, such part being detached from the adjacent side wall. There is then provided the bracket member 38, which may be soldered or otherwise secured to the end 31 of the peripheral circular wall, and soldered or otherwise secured to the end 30 of the offset portion. The cover part 16 will be generally circular, if desired, although the same may have a tongue-like portion 52 suitably shaped to close the offset portion. The marginal flange 18 will preferably be discontinuous as at 54 and 56 in order to avoid interference with the bracket and offset marginal edge portions of the main casing member. Either of such walls may be provided with openings or cutouts (not shown), to afford ready inspection of the roll, and to determine the adequacy of the supply.

The curling or crimping edge 34 will not be constructed so sharp as to be likely to cut the fibres of the cellulosic tape when drawn thereacross, or so sharp as to be likely to cause injury to the thumb of the operator. However, the edge will be formed as an abrupt angle, either right or acute, the edge provided being similar to that presented by the cutting edge of a blade of a pair of shears. Such edge preferably will be located a short distance outward of the offset portion, and the corners will be rounded to avoid injury.

It will readily appear that the casing may be formed of plastic, if desired, and if a disposable casing is desired, such casing could be formed in one piece. The essential features relating to the disposition of the curling and cutting edges with reference to the tape outlet would be incorporated in the casing regardless of the material or shape of the casing. The cutting and curling edges can be metal or other suitable material molded into the casing material, if plastic be employed.

The casing may be made of any axial thickness to permit the reception of rolls of varying width, and while the centering pin 22 may not be required where the width of the roll corresponds to the width of the casing, such pin facilitates the accommodation of rolls of diiferent width, and maintains such rolls in free turning aspect within the casing. While the diameter may be varied, in practice, a diameter suitable for convenient grl'jipping in the palm of the hand has been found prefera le.

The dispensing device will at once appear to be a safe means for supplying tying tape so often used in holiday or gift wrapping, rendering it possible, without delay and lost motion, to provide suitable lengths of cellulosic tape, either curled or straight, as may be desired. Such device, at the same time, may be conveniently loaded, affording an opportunity to quickly change the roll material to be dispensed therefrom, if desired.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing and curling device for cellulosic nonadhesive binding tape in roll form comprising a casing having a substantially circular peripheral wall, means for supporting a roll within the casing, and means affording access to the casing for placing a roll therein, a slot in said peripheral wall through which tape may be withdrawn, a bracket-supported curling edge mounted upon the exterior of said casing with the curling edge extending substantially parallel with said slot and adjacent thereto, and a bracket-supporting cutting edge mounted on the casing adjacent said slot, said curling edge and said cutting edge being spaced from one another, whereby tape withdrawn from said slot and passing over said curling edge extends from the casing slot at a substantially different angle than when the tape is extended from said slot over the cutting edge.

2. A dispensing and curling device for cellulosic nonadhesive binding tape in roll form comprising a casing having side walls, and a substantially circular peripheral wall, a roll-supporting pin centrally mounted on one of said walls and projecting inwardly, and one of said walls being removable for access to said casing, an outlet slot in said peripheral wall, and an outwardly extending bracket mounted on said peripheral Wall adjacent said slot, said bracket having a curling edge extending substantially parallel with the axis of said casing, said bracket curling edge being formed by an abrupt angle between a surface of said bracket and the end edge thereof.

3. In a dispensing and curling device for cellulosic non-adhesive binding tape in roll form, a casing having spaced side walls and a substantially circular peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being offset outwardly for a portion of its arcuate length, a slot in said peripheral wall adjacent to but spaced from one end of said offset portion, an outwardly projecting bracket having a curling edge mounted at the end of said offset adjacent said slot, and a cutting device mounted upon said offset, said cutting edge being disposed in spaced relation from said curling edge, whereby tape being drawn from said slot may engage said curling edge when extending in one direction from the slot, and against said cutting edge when extending in a substantially different direction from said slot.

4. In a dispensing and curling device for cellulosic binding tape in roll form, a casing having spaced side walls and a substantially circular peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being offset outwardly for a portion of its arcuate length, and having outwardly extending walls joining said peripheral wall with the offset portion, a slot in said peripheral wall adjacent to but spaced from said offset portion, a radially extending curling edge projecting from said outwardly extending wall adjacent said slot, an open-ended slot in said last-named wall, and an open-ended slot in said offset portion, said last-named slot having a cutting edge projecting part way thereinto from the under side of said offset portion.

5. In a dispensing and curling device for cellulosic binding tape in roll form, a casing having spaced side walls and a substantially circular peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being offset outwardly for a portion of its arcuate length, and having outwardly extending walls joining said peripheral wall with the offset portion, a slot in said peripheral wall adjacent to but spaced from said offset portion, a radially extending curling edge projecting from said outwardly extending wall adjacent said slot, an open-ended slot in said last-named wall, and an openended slot in said offset portion, said last-named slot having a cutting edge projecting part way thereinto from the under side of said offset portion, one of said side walls being removable for access to said casing, and the other being substantially circular whereby to expose the openended slots in said offset portion.

6. In a dispensing and curling device for cellulosic nonadhesive binding tape in roll form, a casing having spaced side walls and a substantially circular peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being offset outwardly for a portion of its arcuate length, a slot in said peripheral wall adjacent to but spaced from one end of said offset portion, an outwardly projecting bracket having a curling edge mounted at the end of said offset adjacent said slot, and a cutting device mounted upon said offset, said cutting device being circumferentially disposed from said curling edge whereby said tape, when engaging the curling edge or engaging the cutting device, extends along substantially different paths.

7. A dispensing and curling device for cellulosic nonadhesive binding tape in roll form comprising a casing structure having means for supporting a roll and including support means disposed to peripherally overlie a substantial portion of a roll supported on the structure, said support having a slot therein extending parallel with the axis of the roll-supporting means through which tape may be withdrawn, and a bracket-supported curling edge mounted thereon with the curling edge extending substantially parallel with said slot and adjacent thereto and radially disposed outwardly with respect to said support and the reel-supporting means, said bracket-supported curling edge being formed by an abrupt angle between a surface of said bracket and the end edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,354 Harper May 25, 1886 1,837,180 Bennett, Jr. et al Dec. 15, 1931 2,333,924 Gorbatenko Nov. 9, 1943 2,463,445 Van Cleef Mar. 1, 1949 2,470,342 De Luisi et al. May 17, 1949 2,547,569 Erhardt Apr. 3, 1951 2,578,519 Double Dec. 11, 1951 

